Millwall caretaker boss David Tuttle suffered his first defeat in charge of the Lions thanks to Preston goals either side of half-time from Patrick Agyemang and Claude Davis.

The Londoners go into Wednesday's FA Cup third round replay at Everton on the back of a first defeat in six games, while play-off chasing North End extended their run to 18 matches without defeat.

The visitors managed to stifle Preston for long spells in the first half but Chris Sedgwick and debutant Brian Stock conjured an opening for Agyemang to clip past Lions goalkeeper Colin Doyle three minutes before the break.

That lead was doubled just after half-time when Davis converted a simple header from Callum Davidson's corner to make it a comfortable advantage.

After that Preston were never troubled and cruised to a comfortable victory in a game they controlled from the first whistle.

Preston boss Billy Davies threw Stock straight into his starting line-up after signing the Bournemouth man on-loan with a view to putting the finishing touches to a £150,000 deal next week.

The former Wales Under-21 international showed some bright and confident early play, while at the other end youngster Marvin Williams, who made the headlines with his goal against Everton, found himself in the book for diving after a challenge from Tyrone Mears.

North End were applying the pressure but there was little goalmouth action apart from a deflected David Nugent effort that Lions goalkeeper Doyle scrambled to save.

Just before the half-hour a Callum Davidson cross was flicked on by Agyemang but Nugent just failed to get a shot away from six yards out and the danger was cleared.

Millwall's only real attack came when a Ben May free-kick was blocked only as far as Kevin Braniff but a Preston player also got in the way of his follow-up.

Another Davidson cross was met by Stock on the volley six minutes before the break but Doyle did well to tip the ball over. But just before the break, quick passes from Sedgwick and Stock enabled Agyemang made the most of his first opportunity of the afternoon and give Preston the lead.

The hosts refused to rest on their advantage and went looking for another goal immediately with Doyle getting low to stop a Sedgwick shot.

But five minutes after the re-start, they doubled their lead when Davis rose at the near post to thump home Davidson's corner.

The Lions were rattled although Marvin Elliott did break from halfway and have a shot easily saved by North End goalkeeper Carlo Nash.

North End were dominating without ever really having to push themselves and they enjoyed long spells of possession.

Davies took the opportunity to throw on Simon Whaley, signed last week from Bury, for his debut before Nugent almost added a third from Mears' cross.

Lions substitute Carlos Fangeuiro forced a smart save from Nash in the closing stages but North End were never in trouble and substitute Lewis Neal even hit the side netting for the hosts.

Teams:

Preston Nash, Alexander, Mawene, Davis, Mears, Sedgwick, McKenna (Lewis Neal 69), Stock (Whaley 77), Davidson, Nugent, Agyemang (Dichio 85).

Subs Not Used: Lucketti, Hibbert.

Booked: Mawene, Davidson.

Goals: Agyemang 43, Davis 51.

Millwall Doyle, Lawrence, Phillips, Whitbread, Craig, Cogan, Elliott (Hendry 80), Livermore, Braniff (Fangueiro 53), Williams (Healy 62), May.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Pooley.

Booked: Williams, Craig.

Att: 14,165

Ref: J Moss (West Yorkshire).